I’ll admit that I don’t quite understand the obsession with vampires. Dracula stories gave me nightmares when I was a kid, though I was a big fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer when it was on. Voracious reader that I am, the only vampire book I’ve read is Robin McKinley’s Sunshine. So, when I saw this book, I was a little skeptical. I’m not really the target audience, you know? But…

This book is unexpectedly beguiling. The write-ups for each pattern are fun. It’s hard to resist an introduction that begins, “There is no better protection from blood-thirsty vampires than this plush, hooded cowl which encircles your delicate and appetizing human neck with warm woolen cables…” Or, “Vampires don’t have to worry about wrinkles, since they never age physically, but a vampire will want to develop her or his own sense of style. What do modern vampires wear? Tuxedos? Black capes?…”

And the patterns themselves? Love them. I was surprised at how much I loved them, starting with the “Tourniquet Scarf” which mimics the look of a nasty neck wound in a surprisingly tasteful fashion. There are wraps, sweaters, gloves, shawls, blankets, pulse-protectors (warmers), socks … Most of them are directed at women, but there are some patterns for men and children, as well. As well as non-clothing items like the blood-type bottle-cozies to “keep your blood at 98.6 degrees.” Or the “Got Blood” pillow. Let’s not forget the werewolf designs, too. It’s not all about vampires, after all, and the paw-print fingerless gloves and the hat with ears are adorable.

I actually rather love this book. The patterns are wonderful. They’re creative but also GOOD. They’re not as, well, cheesy as I had been afraid of. The pictures are atmospheric but illustrative. And all in all, what first appears to be a gimmicky book geared to capitalizing on a current trend is actually a useful collection of practical patterns.

So, yes, the trend will eventually (?) fade. In a few years, the descriptions might be dated. (“Oh, was there a vampire movie called Twilight? I think I remember that.”) But the patterns themselves? Charming. There’s a sense of creative freedom at work here that’s as bewitching as the modern-day vampire seems to be. Which, after all, is the point.